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Hi, Molly, Thanks for posting! Are there any support groups in our area? My surgeon here holds one every month, and I've found them very helpful. Best, Christine

I have definitely used the DVD's- they are super! Most of the time, I go to live classes, since they are convenient and I get them free as part of my Gold's Gym membership. Enjoy!! Christine

What a wonderful thread!! So far, I've said goodbye to: Wearing Poise pads everyday...and being afraid to cough, sneeze, or laugh without them Lower back pain 1/2 of both my diabetes and blood pressure meds (may come off altogether later this summer) The inability to climb a flight of stairs without having to take 10 minutes to catch my breath Constant fatigue The thought that food has any kind of power over me The avoidance of exercise...in 3 weeks, I will be certified as a Zumba instructor!! Being Morbidly Obese, based on my BMI The conviction that I would never be considered attractive What a blessed journey we are all on!! Hugs all around- especially to you, Tina!! Christine

I actually started back at the gym a little before my surgery...heck, I had been paying for it for quite a while, but never using it! Started in earnest about 2 weeks postop, walking on the treadmill. As I got stronger, I started to do other things, like the elliptical. 4 weeks post, I started taking classes and weightlifting. At this point, I'm going 4-5 days a week, including Zumba at least twice a week, and varying my other activities as much as I can. In 3 weeks, I go for training as a Zumba Gold instructor- if I'm going to exercise anyway, I might as well make a bit of $$$ doing it, lol! I also have all kinds of Walk Away The Pounds, Zumba, WAVE, and Kettlebell DVDs at home, so if my schedule gets crazy, I can get in the activity on my own time. Just a couple of thoughts for you...you may want to consider switching your gym membership to one of the 24-hour-a-day-access facilities, so you can go when your schedule allows. And, once the school year starts, check with your local Board of Education for the Adult Education schedule- they are likely to be offering fitness classes at a very reduced price that might better fit your schedule. PLEASE DON'T demotivate yourself by worrying what other people are thinking when they see you exercising. The honest truth is, there's a 99.99% chance they are not concerned with you in the slightest! I'm still a big gal, but I don't let the thought of other's opinions stop me when I'm doing my thing My very best wishes to you on your journey! Christine

Welcome to Banderland! Just a friendly word of advice...you need to resist the temptation of advancing your diet too early. I was on liquids for 10 days post surgery, then 2 weeks on purees-to-softs. If you're going totally crazy, then call your surgeon and ask about what you can safely add in. Doing this too fast is putting yourself at risk for trouble. As to Protein supplements, try going out on the Bariatric Eating or Bariatric Advantage websites...there are lots of options available for you to get your protein in while you are healing...and not all of them are milky shakes. The brand called Believe is good, and there are others. And, just a small comment regarding an earlier posting...it is recommended by most surgeons that you don't drink liquids with a straw after weight loss surgery- it introduces too much air into your pouch. That said, lemonade iced tea is terrific! Take heart! This is just a temporary period in your journey, and if you were strong enough to get this far, you can weather this as well. Soon, you'll be back to more normal foods. Take care! Christine

Greetings, all, First, I have to give MEGA KUDOS to Colorado for taking the risk in opening this thread, knowing that it was pretty much akin to opening Pandora's Box. I extend my support to all of you who are newly banded and struggling through the early days...it's definitely not an easy time, physically AND psychologically. I was lucky in the sense that I had a 6 month waiting period from my insurance company to do full research and get my head together prior to my surgery. Even so, though, I have certainly gone through some feelings of anger, resentment, frustration, and all the other issues along the way. There are certain things that I now consider ASSUMPTIONS when it comes to my life: 1) I have control over food. It does NOT have control over me, perfect restriction or not. My Band helps me do that, thank heavens, but the ultimate responsibility is, and always will be, MINE. 2) I choose what, how fast, and how much to eat. If I make poor choices, I have to accept the consequences. I will NEVER AGAIN be able to eat without being mindful of the act...that kind of thing is what got me here in the first place. 3) It is no longer viable to not get physical exercise of some kind every day. I don't have to beat my brains out for an hour on an elliptical, necessarily, but I do have to move. Every day. 4) I didn't become 300 pounds overnight, and I'm not going to reach goal overnight, either. 5) Looking better and wearing smaller sizes are simply the ingredients to the icing on the "I'm going to live a longer, healthier life, if that is to be my journey" cake. 6) I will Celebrate each and every pound lost, knowing that if I do my part faithfully, it will never return. 7) I will provide support, love (tough love, if necessary), and encouragement to those who are on this journey as well, no matter what method they chose. We are all in this together. Hugs all around, to the bravest guys and gals I know...I honor all of you! Christine

Hi, everyone!! I would like to encourage anyone who's curious to GO FOR IT!!! It's too much fun, and you can easily modify the moves if you're not ready for some of the more intense/high impact stuff, while still having a great workout! If it is any kind of motivation, prior to my surgery, I did very little, if anything, in the way of exercise...now, I'm working out almost every day, including 2-3 Zumba classes a week...and I just registered to take classes and become a Zumba Instructor!! Mind you, I'm still a big gal at 255, but I'm hoping that seeing a woman of size out there and moving it will bring others to the classes- If I Can Zumba, So Can You!! Hugs all around! Christine

I, too, am a Zumba enthusiast, toffee, so I know just how you feel!! I think Betsy is quite right...Zumba is fairly high impact, and although you can do some modifications of the moves, I would say that you'd be better off holding off on it until about 4 weeks postop. I started back to the gym at 2 weeks post, but didn't resume taking aerobic-based classes or lift weights until I was 4 weeks post. On the bright side, I just signed up to take the certification to actually TEACH Zumba :redface: Can't wait to share my mania far and wide! All the best to you on your journey! Christine

I get the sugar free mint patties (like the small York patties), and keep them in the freezer. When I need a chocolate fix, one of those is perfect, and because it's cold, it takes a long time to melt. I've also tried a Cookies and cream Protein shake...vanilla Protein powder, soy milk, ice, and a couple of sugar free sandwich cookies (like oreos) in the blender. Fantastic! Best wishes, hon! Christine

I'm adding my vote to the "don't unfill" camp. I can't speak for anyone else, but if I were being really honest, I would say that being able to ease off my eating plans for convenient reasons, i.e. vacations, holidays, and the like, was a major contributor to how I got here in the first place. To give in to that temptation now would just be an act of self-sabotage. Our social lives shouldn't be wrapped around the mechanical act of eating/drinking. Eating good food is a pleasure, and always should be, but for me, it's just as wonderful in the small amounts my band allows me. I would say, leave your band be, go on vacation, enjoy your time with your friends, and let the food be a secondary part of the experience. If you're worried about getting stuck, be all the more careful about what you eat and how you eat it. Wishing you all the best! Christine

Good for you, wanting to spread the news! You might want to consider, if your surgeon doesn't have one organized already, moderating a support group...then, you could encourage folks to bring their friends who are thinking of having the surgery. My surgeon gives a monthly lecture at the local hospital about WLS, followed by our support group. It's almost always full, sometimes to standing room only! Best wishes! Christine

What a great idea! Some of the weight machines I use at the gym are set at 55 pounds, and those last few reps are simply a matter of willpower to get through. I stood in the grocery store recently and tried to lift and hold 50 pounds of potatoes. I only lasted a minute or two. How did I ever walk around as heavy as I was? Thanks for the tip! Christine

Courage, hon, this really WILL pass! I echo the other posters that your best ally will be getting up and walking...I almost wore a path in the carpeting of my hallway those first few days! The pressure in your chest is partially from swelling at the surgical site and partially from the gas rising from your abdomen to sit under your diaphragm, but both are temporary. A week from now, you should feel much better. If not, it's worth a call to your surgeon, if only for reassurance. Another thing I found helpful with nausea is to get the Ginger Altoids...suck on them, don't chew...ginger is a well-known homeopathic remedy. Good luck- and welcome to Banderland! Christine

I weigh daily as well, with the knowledge that the weight loss journey is filled with starts and stops. If I have a stop for too long, or see an increasing trend, I take a hard look at 1) what I'm eating, 2) what I'm drinking, and 3) how I'm exercising, to see if anything needs to be modified. What I try NOT to do is get inappropriately anxious about the number on the scale. I let myself get that way during the period between my surgery and my first fill, and the surgeon's office ended up having my husband confiscate my scale for awhile, so I could focus on something else. Betsy is quite right- the scale, like the Band, is a tool...it shouldn't become the driver of your life. Hugs to you! Christine

No wonder you are frustrated! Just on a guess, you might want to consult with an ENT (ear, nose and throat physician), since it sounds like your eustacian tubes are involved. If it were me, I'd also want an upper endoscopy done by a GI physician. Between the two, hopefully, they can come up with what's going on, and get you treated. I wish you well- Christine

My surgeon required a 2 week preop eating plan...although there were 4 choices offered, I decided to go with Medifast, and ended up on it for a month while waiting for the horrible winter weather to clear and for him to catch up on his backlog from cancellations. I haven't regretted it one second...I lost more than 20 pounds during that period, which was so motivating, and it got me in the habit of mindful eating, which is critical to long-term success. Everyone's journey is different, and it's basically unwise to go rogue from your surgeon's directions. However, I have to agree with Betsy and say that now is the time for you to put the good habits in practice that will make your post-band experience more successful. Best wishes! Christine

Hi, there, Since I saw that no one has posted to your questions, I thought I would try to give you a hand. I don't live in your area, but let me suggest that you visit the Allergan Lap Band site, where they have a search engine that will help you will a list of doctors in your area that are performing the surgery. You could also try inquiring at your local hospital. Some surgeons hold periodic seminars discussing weight loss surgery...that's how I made the connection to mine. You'll also want to find a support group- your surgeon might sponsor one of those. It's really helpful to be able to talk with other people walking the journey, even in the pre-op stages. In any case, keep an eye out for the term "Center of Excellence"- it refers to a hospital or surgical center that is doing at least a certain number of these types of surgery a year, and also meets other quality criteria. If at all possible, have your surgery done at one of these facilities. As to the qualifications for your surgery, I'd get in touch with your benefits or HR specialist at work- they can help you sort through your benefits and any constraints (for example, my insurance required a 6 month physician-supervised weight loss program prior to surgery). Many insurance companies require that you have a certain BMI (Body Mass Index) to qualify for the surgery, which is based on your height and weight. If you have comorbidities, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and the like, the required BMI is usually lower. You can go out on the net and find BMI calculators as well, if you don't know what yours is. If you don't have an HR rep to work with, give the insurance company a call, and see what your policy covers. Hope this is helpful- best of luck to you! Christine

I can certainly feel my port...I know exactly where it is, based on the location of my longest incision. I have been teasing my surgeon that I'm going to have a target tattooed over it to help him with my fills, lol! At this point, though, it's not visible under clothes. Because I have no intention of wearing bikinis or bare midriffs(I'm kinda past that age, at least in my mind), I don't think it's going to be a problem, even if it becomes visible as I lose weight. I surely wouldn't consider having it removed for that reason. I'm sure it will all work out well for you! Christine

I'm so excited for you...and I am SOOO walking that journey, too...it really IS more fun than the law should allow!!! I have been very blessed in the fact that I have a colleague at work who is shrinking out of the sizes that I'm currently shrinking into. She was kind enough to give me 8 big bags of clothing, which I'm now proudly wearing. I've been passing my old clothes along in turn. I've also picked up some great things on eBay for a fraction of what they would cost if I got them in the store. I've been avoiding buying new, but I have to admit, today I broke down and bought myself a dress for the first time in ages. I've heard many people on here say, "nothing tastes as good as weight loss feels"...I would have to add "and looks"! Although I did this for the health benefits, and not the vanity issues, I'm certainly enjoying the side bennies :confused: My very best to you! Christine

Hi, there...boy, I hear you with the cashews...it's all too easy to mindlessly eat those. My only salvation, if I want 3 or 4 for the taste, is to chew them to the point where they are almost nut butter :-) I have to agree with an earlier poster...sounds like you weren't empty to start with, so you just laid those nuts on top and overfilled your capacity. I have not yet had an experience like you've described, but I have certainly eaten to where I knew I'd better stop RIGHT NOW. Then, I put down the fork and pick up my knitting :confused: Maybe, if I keep doing that, I might actually finish a project once in awhile. Thanks for your post- it's advice well taken! Christine

Hi, there, welcome to the journey! I had my first consult in June last year, and was banded in late February. My insurance required a 6 month supervised diet, which the surgeon's office took care of, and then I had a bit of a wait due to weather delays and the like. Inbetween, I had a slew of testing...abdominal sonogram, doppler studies of my leg veins, echocardiogram, EKG, stress test, chest xray, 2 sets of blood work, sleep study, pulmonary function studies, arterial blood gas, upper GI, colonoscopy, plus the nutritionist visits and the psych eval...after awhile, I was pretty much convinced I had seen just about every specialist in my area! On the other hand, that 6 month period gave me the time I needed to get all of that accomplished, and during that time, they found a couple of things I wasn't aware of that I was able to address pre-surgically, so I don't begrudge any of it. And, my surgery was approved the first time through, so that was an additional blessing. Hang in there- I know it seems like a long haul, but you'll find yourself having the surgery almost before you know it! Best wishes, Christine

Hi, there! I chose Medifast out of 4 possible preop options my surgeon offered me. Although he only required 2 weeks, I chose to follow the plan for a month. I found it easy to follow, and compared to some of the plans I had been on in the past, the food choices were not bad tasting...my biggest problem, since I commute 4 hours a day, was how to get in all 5 of the meals, PLUS the Lean and Green. There were days when I was not as successful at that as others. I'm still using what I had left over as part of my eating plans. For me, it was a far better choice than just doing Atkins shakes or whatever- I was able to kick the eggs, soups, etc. up a notch with some creativity from my kitchen without negating the effectiveness. I lost about 20 pounds in that month. I know, however, that the reason I was able to tolerate it so well was because it was a means to an end...just a temporary thing. I did take advantage of the 2 week free thing- worked out great, cost-wise. Best of luck to you! Christine

:thumbup:First off, I would like to give you MEGA KUDOS for loving your wife so much that you were willing to push back against her craving, and not be an enabler. The world needs more men like you! The cheating arguement is really more of a justification than anything else. I was on Medifast for a month preop, and managed to get through without deliberately cheating, nor have I cheated since. All along the way, I've seen the improvements in my heath that have made all the potholes in the road worthwhile. I certainly understand the desire for foods that we once were able to eat freely, but I'm convinced that part of the success on this journey is the determination that food must no longer control me...if I had gotten that squared away in my head long ago, I perhaps would never had needed the surgery. Your wife is in the earliest days of her experience...and sometimes I think the early days are the worst. I hope she finds the courage to stick it out through the tough times, because the rewards for doing so are priceless. She may not be thanking you right now, but in the end, she'll realize how lucky she is to have you to provide tough love when she needs it. Best, Christine

I was on clear liquids a week post-op, full liquids 3 days, then purees for 2 weeks, finally transitioning to softs/solids. Had my first fill yesterday, so I'm back to liquids today...purees tomorrow and Saturday...then, if all goes well, I can start morphing back to softs/solids. Good thing I had lots of supplies for all stages handy :-) Best of luck- remember that everyone is different, so just use what you see here for comparison, not as a guideline for you. Christine

I'm so sorry you had a bad experience! My first fill was yesterday, and it was truly no problem...my surgeon did it...very carefully palpated the exact position of the port and used a marker on my skin. It was a bit of a poke, but no worse than how it feels to get my blood drawn. The strangest part was sitting up with the needle still in, and drinking Water while he did the fill, so I could tell him when it started backing up (too full), and then, as he withdrew some, when it dropped through. It was hard for me to describe the sensation- best I could come up with was that it felt like my throat was closing down. Anyway, onward and upward. Congrats on your 20 pound loss- what a great start! Best, Christine